Having met "the one" in high school, Heather Anacone says she was definitely ready when he proposed to her years later. She and J.P. Bruneau met in seventh grade and dated throughout high school and off and on during college. In 2001, both recent college graduates and living in Boston, they reconnected and have been together ever since.

While Heather says she was ready to be married, the December 23, 2005, proposal still came as a shock. The two had planned to give a gift certificate for dance lessons to J.P.’s parents, but when he showed the certificate to Heather, it instead had their own names written. "Before I could say anything, J.P. asked me, 'Will you be my dance partner for the rest of my life,' and presented me with a ring box," recalled Heather. "I was truly surprised and overwhelmed."

Both love the Cape—Heather’s family summers in New Seabury—and thought of it as an ideal wedding location. The couple visited the Chatham Bars Inn soon after becoming engaged and Heather recalls, "it was at that time we became enchanted with the prospect of holding a winter wedding." With J.P.’s birthday in November and Heather’s in December, winter has always been a special time for the two. By March, the couple had secured their vendors and the bride-to-be even had her Kenneth Pool wedding gown.

Choosing the Chatham Bars Inn not only allowed Heather and J.P. to have their ceremony, cocktail hour and reception all in one location, but the Inn was also able to accommodate all 130 guests—making for a spectacular wedding weekend. Friday night, many even attended the rehearsal dinner at the nearby Wequassett Resort. On Saturday, the 4 p.m. ceremony gave Heather time to exercise and walk on the beach with girlfriends while J.P. golfed with friends and family. To utilize the daylight—and the unseasonably warm December weather—for outdoor pictures, the couple had photos taken prior to exchanging vows.

The intimate ceremony, which included a classical guitarist and a college friend of Heather’s singing "God Bless the Broken Road," was enhanced with hundreds of candles, while the sun setting cast a glow behind the altar. The couple wrote their own vows and the minister shared with guests the story of how they had met. "I was excited and ready," J.P. said. "We had dated for 13 years, God bless her, that is a long time to wait. I was looking forward to beginning the next stage of our lives."

Following the ceremony guests retreated to the other end of the Inn for an extended cocktail hour prior to dinner and the reception where the couple shared their first dance as husband and wife to Cher and Peter Cetera’s "After All."

Both say the wedding was the time of their lives and were so happy to have had all of their family and friends together. They had such a great time, that for the first few days of their honeymoon at the Four Seasons Resort, Nevis, they were sad that it was over. But the two will have many more family milestones to celebrate—daughter Parker Marie was born August 30. "I couldn’t be any happier," said Heather. "I am so blessed to have them both in my life."

Written by April Miller